my life, spirituality, travels and more
Where to stay in Sayulita
Greetings all,
my apologies for the silence, I escaped Semana Santa and did an amazing trip to Mexico City and ever since I returned I've been pretty slammed with yoga privates & other work.
I've been wanting to write this blog post already for a long while, since this is THE QUESTION I get the most. And as most of you already know, Sayulita is growing very very fast and there are also lots of amazing places to be found on Airbnb or Vrbo. This list is just a selection of my fave places I've hand picked for you to explore as your options for your next trip to Sayulandia.
In no particular order:
Hotelito Los Sueños
Hotelito Los Sueños (the little hotel of dreams) is located on the north end of town in a more quiet neighborhood. It has recently been remodeled with the addition of a second gorgeous HUGE yoga studio (can fit more than 40 people), a second swimming pool and x number of new rooms. The hotel almost feels like a beautiful garden as they've the walls are beautifully covered with wall climbing vines. They also have a smoothie bar and surfboards and bikes for their guests to use. All rooms have AC. Room rates vary from their Premium room (91 USD/night) to their Villa (178 USD/night).
AC ✓ Swimming pool ✓ Yoga Studio ✓ @hotelito_los_suenos
Casa Love
Located next to the surf break, Casa Love this gypset styled boutique hotel is your go to if wanting to stay both close to the beach and town centre. The hotel is upstairs from the famous Pachamama Gallery and has a super cute roof deck to check out the surf. This spot has gotten loads of coverage on social media and rightfully so. There are six rooms to choose from, all uniquely decorated with big mandalas and hearts. There's a big living space with a kitchen and colorful hammocks to lounge in. Room rates vary from 90 USD per night to 190 USD per night.
Petit Hotel Hafa
Petit Hotel Hafa is a bohemian Moroccan styled boutique hotel located in town centre just above the famous "Wine Bar" (Le Zoave) and about two blocks from the beach. This family owned hotel has a beautiful roof deck overlooking the town colorfully decorated with vibrant pillows and cactus plants. With 6 different rooms to choose from ranging from 50 USD per night to 85 USD per night, this is the spot if you want to stay in the heart of Sayulita.
AC ✓ @hotelhafasayulita
Amor Boutique Hotel
Amor Boutique Hotel is a luxury hotel located on the south end of the main beach in Sayulita, yet perfectly secluded from the towns hustle and bustle. They offer complimentary daily yoga classes, free use of surf boards and SUP's as well as push bikes. Service on point, great location and stunning oceanfront views with 21 unique villas to choose from. All the villas were built honoring nature leaving big trees growing into some of them (Villa La Paz and Arboles). Room rates starting at 195 USD, if money is not an issue Villa Arboles (850 USD/night) and Villa Romance (850 USD/night) are to die for. Room rates starting at 195 USD/night. All rooms have AC. Definitely the most romantic pick.
AC ✓ Swimming pool ✓ Yoga studio ✓ @amorboutiquehotel
Aurinko Bungalows
Aurinko Bungalows is located in the heart of Sayulita, just next to the town plaza. This charming boutique hotel is colorfully decorated with art from local artist and is a family owned business. Last year a wooden yoga studio along with a salt water swimming pool was added to their facilities. This hotel is your green choice as all the water runs through a filter so even the shower water is drinkable! They recently put in a solar panel for them to earn another feather in their cap. Nearly all rooms have AC. Room rates from 90 USD (one bedroom) to 150 USD (two bedroom units). This would be the greenest choice.
AC ✓ Swimming pool ✓ Yoga studio ✓
Casa Ilusion
Situated on the north end of town, Casa Ilusion is a premier beachfront house with four bedrooms. The house features its own private beach with high palm trees situated atop a high seawall giving you privacy from the public beach, however if you were to want to frolick by the waters edge, you can easily walk down to the public beach. Another option would be to nap in on of the big hammocks in between the high palm trees. The house went through a huge remodeling just a few years ago, so the house has a very modern feel to it with its new kitchen and bathrooms. High season rental price 1,357 USD/night and Holiday season (Christmas) 2500 USD/night. Not for the budget traveler ;) but a vacay here will definitely we one to remember.
AC ✓ Swimming pool ✓ @casailusionsayulita
Villa Pelicanos
Villa Pelicanos is a luxury oceanview property located just next to Los Muertos Beach. The main house of the property is located on the top of the hill providing a breathtaking scenery overlooking Sayulita and the ocean. There is a huge infinity pool along with a beautifully decorated palapa livingroom. This property is best enjoyed with a large group of friends or family that want to spend quality time together but also some privacy in their own casitas. The house can guest up to 14 people with its 7 bedrooms. There are four separate casitas on the property and each one has its own bathroom. There's also a separate casita for the kitchen and dining area. High season price at 1,900 USD per night.
AC ✓ Swimming pool ✓ @villapelicanossayulita
Casa Santander
Casa Santander is a beautiful property in downtown Sayulita, just one block away from the beach and town centre. With four different units to choose from, this choice is perfect for the surfer as it's so close to the main surf spot in Sayulita. The property also has a swimming pool overlooking the beach and town. The four units can also be rented in its entirety which makes it a good pick for friends looking to stay together, yet having their own privacy. All rooms have their own kitchens and AC installed. Rates vary from 65 USD a night to 250 USD night depending on size & location.
AC ✓ Swimming pool ✓
Enjoy!
Saludos desde el paraiso,
Eva
Friends with businesses: Cosmic Collage by Lori Menna
Meet Lori Menna, a graphic designer based in La Cruz, Nayarit originally from Philadelphia. Lori is a talented artist who has lately been working on a creative project called Cosmic Collage. Cosmic Collage is a collection of stunning pictures she embellishes into vibrant images that invite you into another world. Her inspiration stems from the mystical world we live in, sacred geometry as well as other dimensions.
You can currently find her art in Sayulita in Zafiro Shop, Don Pedro's Restaurant and Calaverita de Mita in Punta de Mita. Her art is also available in her online store. She recently started crafting Cosmic Collage pendulum boxes and journals. I've been lucky enough to be featured in some of her spectacular pieces and it goes without saying, I am completely obsessed with her artwork and the ravishing colors and concepts.
Lori has also created my logo, my business card and a flyer for my website and company. You can see hints of her cosmic collage style in my company look combined with the Flower of Life along with my favorite color; purple. I am very grateful for her work and for using me in her artwork. I sat down with Lori and asked her a few things about her art and about where she gets her inspiration and how she ended up doing what she is doing. Enjoy the art and make sure to also check her out on IG under the handle @cosmicollage.
Q: What is your background and how did you end up in Mexico?
A: It was 2008 in San Diego when I made the decision to move to Mexico. I had already started my migration south from Philadelphia. After several visits, I began to tell my coworkers, friends and family that I was packing up my Volkswagen convertible beetle and driving down to Sayulita to live. I was in love of course. It was the sunshine, the waves, the ceviche & cervezas, the warmth of the sea and it was the life I wanted. It wasn't exactly an easy task explaining and convincing most, but I did it and I don't regret it for a second!
Q: What is Cosmic Collage?
A: Cosmic collage is a fantasy world that I've created that invokes a surreal and dreamlike wonder. It is a window into another dimension. My intention is to alleviate some of the heaviness that's going on in the world and make a contribution of beauty and light.
Q: Where do you get your inspiration for Cosmic Collage?
A: I am inspired by the great mystery of life, fractals in nature and sacred geometry. I am drawn to the healing patterns of indigenous people. My ideas and visions come to me in mediation. My creativity is something that travels through me, it is a gift from the spirit world. I create when I am open receive a natural flow of spiritual and creative energy.
Q: What kind of creative patterns, routines or rituals do you have?
A: Daily meditation, Ceremonies and Plant Medicine are a big part of my life. I practice lucid dreaming. I wake up in the middle of the night a lot and create or write down my ideas. I make sure that I spend time everyday creating something that is apart from my job as a web/graphic designer.
Q: Do you remember the time when you first realized that creating was something you had to do?
A: As a child I was always creating. I knew that was my outlet and that I would pursue it at a very young age of 7 or 8.
Q: What’s your favourite thing you’ve ever created?
A: My children, Oliver and Claudia and our home full of Love and color.
Q: What superpower would you have and why?
A: I would rid the earth of GMO’s, I would stop drilling and fracking, I would clean the plastic from the oceans and the toxins from the rivers.
Q: What is your dream project?
A: My dream project is to clean up the soil and the land in the town that I grew up in from cancer causing toxins, to rebuild the school and give back hope to the children that live there.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
A: To trust and surrender.
Q: Professionally, what’s your goal?
A: I would like to have some books of images published, I would love to work on an animal spirit deck and master plant deck. I would love to see large installations in hotels and homes all over the world.
Muchas gracias Lori <3
Poppy & Peonies - a fun photoshoot in Sayulita
Living in Sayulita is pretty amazing for several obvious reasons: tropical climate, beautiful beaches, Mexican food & culture, colorful houses, waves and the community. On top of that, it is now also become a popular place amongst international brands to shoot their lookbooks, catalogs and commercials here. I'm very grateful for that as it has given me now several opportunities to meet many big and small business owners and work with them here in Sayulita. I recently did a photoshoot with the talented Adrian Doza (NY photographer) and with the lovely founder, Nat from Poppy & Peonies, an online store selling chic and handy handbags!
Check out their lookbook on their website here. Follow on ig @poppy_peonies and enjoy these cute spring-y pictures!
Until next time,
xx
Eva
Beach yoga sesh with Vuokko Salo Photography
I wanted to share these stunning images Vuokko Salo captured during her stay here in Sayulita. Vuokko Salo is not just an amazing, talented photographer who's got an extremely good eye, but she is also a beautiful mama of two adorable kids, a loving wife and has a heart big as a whale. I am lucky to call her a friend and to work with her! Without further ado, enjoy these gorgeous shots we recently took. Make sure to give her a follow on IG @vuokkosalo
PS. The beautiful mat is by Yoga Design lab and pants by Solo Sol
Yoga privates in Sayulita | Blog post by SayulitaLife
[This is a guest post by Stacey Elkins for SayulitaLife]
A Relaxing Treat in Sayulita: A Private Yoga Class with Eva Estlander Yoga
Photos: Camilla Fuchs Photography
Savasana love.
It was early Thursday evening and it had been another busy day, leaving me feeling exhausted and drained. As I took my place on the yoga mat at Don Pedro’s Brisa Mar Palapain Sayulita, I could feel the day’s stress already start to melt away. A gentle, cool breeze, the scent of incense, and the sound of waves hitting the shore further enhanced my relaxation as I prepared for my first private yin yoga class with Eva Estlander Yoga, in which she is in high demand.
Eva explained that yin yoga is about relaxing the body, not activating the muscles. It’s about working with the body’s connective tissue, which is a thick, white layer of tissue that holds the parts of the body together. It’s about finding your edge, how deep you can go in a pose (most focusing on the hips, glutes, and inner thighs), without feeling any pain or tingling. It’s about using your breath to move deeper into each pose, which is held between two and eight minutes. Relaxation in yin yoga is the ultimate goal, offering a nice balance from the active lifestyle in which most of live.
For the first pose, Eva had me lie on my back, a yoga bolster placed under my knees, my arms spread out on each side. Her soft, gentle voice acted as a meditative guide as she had me visualize a bright orange wheel of light filling my body and spinning as I inhaled, tension leaving my body as I exhaled. She explained that the body has seven main chakras (energy centers), and that two of them are the main focus in yin yoga: The root chakra at the base of the spine (represents feeling supported and grounded) and the sacral chakra just beneath the naval (represents creativity and sexuality).
Throughout my private class with Eva Estlander Yoga, I felt extremely relaxed as Eva guided me through the poses, which included pigeon, cow, half moon, and more. Eva was very attentive, offering gentle adjustments as needed, which further enhanced the experience. For the straddle pose, she encouraged me do three levels of stretching, which was made possible by utilizing a yoga bolster, yoga block, and a blanket. Each pose offered a nice stretch as I found stillness and enjoyed the solitude of the practice.
During the final pose, savasana, Eva incorporated two natural oils, which are made for the elements of the chakras in which we focused during the class. The scent of orange, as well as a nutmeg mix filled the air, as the sound of a singing bowl and hand drums created beautiful, inviting tones. Eva gently pushed on my shoulders and arms and massaged my temples and between my eyes as I lay on the mat completely relaxed and feeling rejuvenated. The sun had set, the night was silent, and I couldn’t have felt better.
Friends with businesses: Manyana | Quality Peoples
The master mind behind Quality Peoples & Manyana, Ed Fladung.
Meet Ed Fladung, one of the coolest cats you'll come across around these corners. Ed is a photographer, designer, surfer, the brainchild behind the rad t-shirt brand Quality Peoples and a recent shop owner here in Sayulita. His store, Manyana, is one of the most stunning boutiques in town with a clean style that reminds me of home with its Scandinavian feel. In addition to his own t-shirt brand, Quality Peoples, Manyana also carries an interesting mix of both international and national brands. I asked Ed a couple questions on how he ended up in Mex and to tell us a little more about the cool things he's doing... We also did a fun photoshoot with photographer home girl Jessica.
Clean, beautiful and stylish.
Q: How did you end up in Mex/how long have you lived in Mex?
A: My family has vacationed in Mexico since the early 80s, first on the east coast and then on the west coast. My parents bought a piece of property here in Nayarit, in the late 90s and built a vacation house. In early 00’s they retired and moved to Nayarit full-time. A few years later they started a small business designing and building houses. At the time, I was creative directing and producing online marketing for the movie studios in Los Angeles and slowly burning myself out. In 2004, I came down for a few weeks to help my parents with their business. We had some family friends staying with us. I worked in the mornings and our friends taught me to surf in the afternoons. I was hooked. I went back to LA, put all my stuff in storage, rented my house out, sold my car, told all my clients I was going to take 6 months off, bought a surfboard and went back to Mexico. And that was 12 years ago.
I met Marcia about 3 months after I moved here. She was in town, taking some time off from her family business in Guadalajara. We got married two years to the day we met. Two years later, we had our son, Luca. He’s 8 years old now.
Q: How did you get into design?
A: I’ve always looked at things from a design perspective, in high school my friends and I had a small skateboard collective and brand. We designed and printed t-shirts, stickers and hats, anything we could put a logo on. I studied graphic design at CalArts and over the years, I’ve applied the ideas I learned there to various different mediums and projects. At some point, in my Mexico adventure, I began to think about what was next. I remembered the t-shirt graphics I had done in high school and college. The idea of creating some kind of t-shirt brand seemed like a fun project. Around that time, I met John Esguerra, a graphic designer and art curator based on the North Shore, Haliewa Oahu Hawaii.
Q: What is the story behind Quality Peoples? Where does the name come from?
A: John and I began collaborating on a small art zine he curates, called Chinese Wax Job. I was heavy into surf photography at the time and with no formal training, my surf photos tended to be more arty than functional. More like water landscapes. We talked about the idea of doing a surf t-shirt art project and collaborated over instant messenger. Quality Peoples was born in 2010. I’ve used the name Quality Peoples (QP for short), for various different things over the years, and as we were putting together the brand, we went over a million names and QP just kind of stuck. It seemed to work for what we were trying to do with the project. We put together our first season of graphics and started talking to stores. That proved hard with two guys living in Hawaii and Mexico, so we were fortunate enough to have a showroom in New York that agreed to handle our sales. And we’ve been growing QP slow and steadily ever since.
Q: You’ve recently opened a hip shop called Manyana in Sayulita, what is it like to have and run a shop in Sayulita?
A: Marcia and I had been stealthily looking for a store front to rent in Sayulita, for the past few years, but it had proved difficult to find and rent a space. At various points, I had thrown in the towel, always with a small, vocal group of friends urgently pleading with me to open a shop. When I was approached about renting our current space, I jumped at the opportunity and turned to concepting the shop.
Find these tees at Manyana, Sayulita.
Marcia and I have complementary skill sets, I am the creative and she is the business lady. She’s keeps Manyana running smoothly and I keep things fun and interesting. It’s been quite a change in our lifestyle, opening the shop and being there on a regular basis. But it’s also very exciting. It’s been great working with Marcia to make Manyana a special experience for our customers.
One of the things we’ve tried very hard to create, is a sense of calm in the shop, from the minimal wooden fixtures, to the music, to the scent in the air and the air conditioning. Sayulita is a busy, colorful place and we wanted to make the shop a place for people to come and rest their brains and eyes a bit. We probably should have opened a cafe instead :)
We work closely with all our brands and projects, to make sure that the items you can find in Manyana are unique to the area and that the concept is original. We hope it shows.
Q: What other brands do you carry in Manyana?
A: Quality Peoples is our cornerstone brand and Manyana shares a lot of DNA with QP, as they are both projects that I’ve poured my heart into. We carry a small curated collection of imported clothing and accessories. All people I’ve met over the years of doing QP, or brands who I think are doing something interesting and unique. To name but a few: Industry of All Nations, Battenwear, Alex Crane, Sunbuddies, Scout & Catalogue.
We also carry a curated collection of contemporary home goods and objet d’arts made here in Mexico. These projects are created by people I know personally, or have been introduced to through friends. Most projects are by young architects and designers working with artisans to create a more contemporary or modern take on everyday Mexican objects with traditional production techniques. Most of the projects are dedicated to fair-wages for the artisans and made by hand or in small batches. Some of the items we carry: tablecloths and placemats, copper vases, beach towels/throws, ceramic bowls and cups, wool rugs, ceramic candlesticks and palm baskets. I’m really proud of the selection of projects we carry, to name a few: Diario, Estudio Pomelo, Pop Dots, Kino, Taller Revez
Q: Any exciting collaborations/projects or plans for Manyana in the near future? What is your vision for Manyana?
Calle Marlin 18, across the street from Naty's Tacos.
A: As far as vision, we see Manyana as it’s own brand or experience, and we’re definitely exploring ways to expand it. Nothing solid yet, we’re been open for about 3 months now, and I think we’re still getting our sea legs. But we’re constantly thinking about it.
We’re just getting started with curating contemporary design from Mexico and Latin America. That part of Manyana is a lot of fun for us. We’ve been meeting a lot of talented people through curation and and look forward to finding new projects and sharing them with Sayulita.
We’re also working on a few different things for Manyana at the moment. Marcia and I are both interested in the idea of doing clothing, accessories and home goods in Mexico with the Manyana name. And so we’ve begun exploring different areas of Mexico for their possibilities. This takes me away from the shop a bit as I hit the open road, but I think we both really want to push the idea of making quality goods in Mexico, especially clothing.
I love this shot.
Q: How often do you get to surf these days? What else do you do during your free time when not working?
A: I still get to surf a fair bit, not every day. I suppose I could surf more than I do, if I dedicated myself to getting out there. But it’s definitely been a bit harder now that both of us are working in the shop. A balance will come, nothing stays the same, so it will all eventually work out.
These past few months I’ve been taking a small break from surfing in the mornings, in favor of practicing yoga. Marcia and I have been practicing together at our local yoga joint. It’s nice to do something with her, that we can share, that isn't family and isn't the shop. She doesn't surf, so it’s something we can do together that is both external and internal. I’m a reluctant yogi. My teacher probably would refer to me as a yoyo: one who only does yoga every other day. That’s a little dharma joke there :)
When I’m not working on Manyana, I’m usually working on QP or vice versa or sometimes even concurrently I’m working on both projects. When not “working”, I’m usually just hanging with Luca, he’s learning to skateboard which is something that I grew up doing, intensively. So it’s fun to watch him learn.
Q: Favorite quote?
A: I don’t really have a favorite quote at the moment.
Times are kind of crazy now, so I’ve been keeping my mind limber on a steady diet of Noam Chomsky lectures (Chomsky is my spirit animal), Arcade Fire (I really get into their “preparing for the apocalypse” vibe) and when I’m feeling optimistic, I listen to Elliot Smith Live recordings. Haha.
One last thing: both Marcia and I would like to mention that we are humbled by the reception of Manyana by both Sayulita locals and visitors alike. Every day people come into the shop and say how wonderful they think the shop is. We appreciate that beyond words. Manyana is a labor of love for us both and in a lot of ways, we’re both putting ourselves out there in ways neither of us have done in the past. It feels good to see that people can connect with the shop and enjoy it, especially local Sayulita folk, that’s golden.
So thank you, Sayulita, con mucho cariño. From Ed & Marcia.
When in Sayulita, make sure to pop into Manyana on Calle Marlin 18 (just across Naty's Tacos, next to the town plaza). You also want to follow them on their ig accounts: @manyana.co and @qualitypeoples
Girls just wanna have fun (and be pampered)
Last Sunday was a really relaxing day. I had been busy with work and other commitments lately, so I really felt like I needed some well deserved down time with my gal pals and maybe a couple glasses of Cabernet. I spoke about my need to relax with Carmen (a local chef in town) and she said she could come to my house and prepare a healthy delicious dinner for a group of friends. We started playing around with the idea a little more and sure enough it turned into something way cooler: a pampering day.
Home made cacao facials.
I reached out to a couple friends to see if they felt the same need to just relax and have a good time and get facials, manicures and pedicures while sipping wine and eating and sure enough you guessed it, they absolutely hated the idea (just kidding).
Shelby feeling like a princess.
Carmen ended up making us amazing organic cacao facials and a beautiful healthy dinner consisting of spring rolls, a pomegranate goats cheese salad and a dessert of passion fruit heaven (not really sure what it consisted of, but sure was yummy)!
Everything was amazing, however, the facials did steal the show. So why would you want to smear cacao on your face, one might ask. The things is, cacao is super rich in antioxidants (flavenoids), which are great for smoothing your skin and giving you a rosy glow. Cacao is also anti-inflammatory and its antioxidants improve and aid in collagen production and it also helps in restoring skin cells. Did I mention it smells divine? That alone, is a reason in itself. If you want to know more, check out this. Carmen was very attentive and made sure no one kept their facials on for too long, which was a very important part of the whole procedure.
I also ended up asking another girl from town to come give us manicures and pedicures, which was another huge hit. This turned into my casita having these different stations for different pampering experiences: kitchen for facials, back patio for card reading (yes, card reading!) and pedicures and living room for manicures. If you're in town and in the need of manis/pedis in the privacy of your own home or villa, make sure to reach out to Manicure Sayulita.
If you feel inspired to try this facial yourself, it's super easy and this is all you need:
Rose water (to clean and wash your face before treatment)
1 Avocado (ripe)
Mint and sage (salvia sylvestre)
1 tbsp organic raw cacao powder
1 teaspoon coconut oil (optional)
How? Very simple, just mix everything together and voilà!
So what's the lesson in all of this? Pamper yourself more. And in groups, it's way more fun ;)
Fresh faced girls after the facials.
Until the next pampering moment,
X
Eva
Friends with businesses: Zafiro Jewelry (my favorite jewelry)
Rocio Akrish, founder & designer of Zafiro jewelry
Priscilla, looking mighty fine rocking Zafiro
Meet Rocio Akrish, designer and founder of Zafiro Jewelry. Rocio was introduced to the jewelry industry at a very young age as she started helping her father sell jewelry at street fairs. In 2008 Rocio opened a tiny jewelry store together with her mom here in Sayulita and recently took over and gave it a complete facelift and new look. Today the shop carries mostly her own line, Zafiro, but also still sells her mom, Doris's jewelry.
Rocio style is elegant, yet edgy and she uses various different materials and gemstones from all over the world. She has always been very creative and designing jewelry and sourcing gemstones throughout Asia and Indonesia are her biggest passions. I sat down with Rocio to ask her a few questions about her jewelry and store here in Sayulita.
Q: Why is your jewelry called Zafiro?
Me showing off my headband, bracelets and rings
A: I was born to hippie parents who gave me the middle name Sapphire. Zafiro is Sapphire in Spanish.
Q: Where do you get your inspiration to design your jewelry?
A: I've always been really curious about ancient civilizations and made my first round of jewelry after I saw the King Tut exhibit, so it was super Egyptian inspired. Since then I've mostly concentrated on stones rings and made some animal pendants like snakes and Raven and Humming bird skulls because I love their symbolism.
Q: Who wears Zafiro? What are your customers like?
A: Its the biggest compliment to hear my friends say they love my jewelry and see them wearing it. I also really like when guys buy my rings and necklaces. Anyone who likes to wear stones can be my customer, no limitations.
Q: What is it like to have a jewelry store in Sayulita? Lots of competition?
A: There are A LOT of Jewelry stores in Sayulita considering its size, but I think I have something different to offer. I carry a big variety of stones and most of my jewels are set in brass, plus I use different materials like bone and fossils.
Q: What plans do you have for Zafiro jewelry?
A; I want to expand my store next year and I'm forever working on a shopping cart website, but I swear it will be done.
Q: Favorite quote?
A: Notice what you notice.
Thank you Chio!!
Love this image of Kelea
All the images are from a Goddess meets Amazon Warrior photoshoot we recently did for Zafiro jewelry. And were shot by Jessica Leigh.
Make sure to give @zafirojewelry a follow on instagram and to stop by Zafiro Jewelry when in town (a beautiful pink wall), you'll find the shop on Avenida Revolucion (main street), just across from Chocobanana.
Friends with businesses: Calaverita De Mita
Emilia showing off her pom poms.
So, you'd think being a Finnish girl in Sayulita is pretty rare... wellp, there's actually three of us! Meet Emilia Kaufmann, my friend and amazing business owner of a beautiful boutique in Punta De Mita. Punta de Mita is another cute little beach town just a short 20 min ride away from Sayulita with an amazing long right hand break called "the Mexican Malibu".
Emilia moved to Mexico about 7 years ago after doing an exchange program in Queretaro. She visited Sayulita and immediately fell in love (how can you not?). Today Emilia owns a colorful home decor/gift shop and spends her time in between Punta de Mita and Sayulita. Her shop, that is called Calaverita de Mita (the little skull of Mita) is located on the main strip in Punta de Mita.
Emilia focuses on Mexican design and sources many of her products throughout the country, she also creates and designs her own clothing, jewelry and clutches and has lately been into tie dye. In Emilia's free time you will find her catching waves, relaxing and enjoying paradise, or as we call it, home.
If you're around the Punta de Mita, Sayulita or the surrounding area, visiting Calaverita de Mita should definitely be on your to do list.
These beautiful clutches are hand died by Emilia and the interior material is plastic, which is super handy for shoving your wet bikinis!
Where to eat in Sayulita
Hi peeps and my apologies for the radio silence. It's peak high season in Sayulita and I've been busy like never before (not complaining, the opposite actually, I am very grateful). I wanted to share with you what every tourist wants to know when they come to town: where to eat. These are my top picks, if you have any other recommendations, please feel free to share them in the comment section below :). Food is thy medicine and food in my little home town is super delish, yum!
I’ve selected my favorite restaurants (in no particular order) for you to explore:
Great, fast service and a beautiful ambiance. Some of the tables are on the street if you prefer not to have cars passing by, request an inside table. If you’re lucky, you might even experience a street performance while dining here. Make sure to try their wood fire oven pizzas, my personal fave is the quatro quesos!
Address: Calle Avenida Revolucion 40
El Itacate
A small authentic taco place on a busy street. They’ve only got a few tables so keep that in mind. From fish to steak to vegetarian, this is the taco place with the best assortment. My favorite: Quesadilla de Jamaica and tinga de zanahoria, also: the pineapple basil water!
Address: Calle José Mariscal
Fine dining on the beach. This restaurant is one of the oldest restaurants in town and is known for its great location and fresh seafood. Their menu is a fusion of modern cuisines. Try the catch of the day and enjoy their delicious margaritas. They offer Mediterranean, Mexican and Asian inspired dishes. On Mondays they have salsa nights, even if you don’t dance, it’s very impressive to watch the beautiful dancers gather here.
Address: Calle Marlin 2
Authentic and absolutely delicious traditional Mexican food. This restaurant is mostly known for their Chile Relleno (stuffed pepper dish) and is therefore also known as the house of Chile Relleno. They also have a very tasty tortilla soup on their menu. The restaurant is partially on the street, but there are two floors. If, you’d like to be seated upstairs, we suggest you make a reservation.
Address: Avenida Revolucion 37
Fine dining at Leda
A modern Italian restaurant with mouth-watering pastas. Nestled in its own little plaza with very knowledgeable and professional staff, this is a great option if you’re craving something other than tacos. Try their gnocchi, yum!
Address: Avenida Revolucion 3
Breakfast, lunch or dinner, this cute place is located just one block from the beach. They have a wide selection of international wines and an interesting fusion of Mexican dishes to Caribbean flavors. Their eggs benedict are amazing, so are their delicious salads.
Address: Calle Marlin 10
Enjoy and buen provecho!!!
Xoxo,
Eva
Energy exchange
I want to write about something that I sometimes struggle with, which is getting fairly compensated for the work I do. I understand this is a sensitive subject, but I feel like it is something we as yoga teachers, and especially female yoga teachers can get better at. Maybe some of you now think, "wait, that's not very yogic to be writing about money", but let me tell you something, yoga teachers still have their bills to pay for.
In yoga, there is something called seva, which translates into selfless service and it basically means that you do an act of kindness or you be of service without expecting anything in return. This is a beautiful philosophy and definitely something that you can incorporate into your every day life or even your yoga practice by offering free yoga classes once in a while. However, when it comes to teaching yoga as your profession, it is still work, and obviously you need to be compensated for it.
To become a yoga teacher is not a walk in the park and most likely you need years of experience under your belt, at least one (usually very expensive) teacher training and lots of teaching hours. Not to mention, you need to understand human anatomy and be able to offer modifications for injuries, be creative (with sequencing and maybe playlists) and hold space. The good news is get to share what you love.
A friend (who also happens to be an amazing energy worker) recently told me that she feels drained after treating her clients if the compensation does not match the energy she is putting out as a healer. This might sound a little wack to some of you, but on many levels it makes sense. There needs to be a fair exchange of energy, and yes, money is a form of energy. It is in our human nature to want to bargain and get the best deals so that we feel that we've gained something, but keep in mind, when you bargain that little extra something you're basically pulling money out of someone else's pocket. That being said, I do believe in giving local discounts, friend discounts and package discounts. Heck yes, who doesn't want a package deal!
Something I've also noticed I am guilty of is the tendency to undercut myself when I want to ensure a job. I think like with basically everything else in life, clear communication also works wonders here. So my tip to you is: ask for what you think is fair and also put yourself in the customer's shoes. Does it feel good? Does it feel fair? If the answer is no, re-evaluate. Negotiating is a fine dance and a skill some people have naturally, when some of us just have to learn and get over the "shame monster" which so often is involved when it comes to chatting monetary compensation. There's a great Finnish saying that goes: "the one asking is not dumb, it's the one paying". Take it with a grain of salt please :D.
These are my thoughts, I'd love to here yours if you have any input or ideas on how to ask for what in your mind feels fair?
My very first blog post
Welcome to mi mundo!
Hi, and nice to virtually meet you, somehow you stumbled here and I am happy you did. This is my very first blog post and I am glad you're here reading it. My first entry will be about my decision to blog: the choice to put myself out there.
Ever since I moved to Mexico (almost 5 years ago now), I've been told to start blogging and writing about my quite unusual life (well at least for a Finnish Swedish chick) living in the tropics in a small beach town in Mexico. It took me 5 years to get here, and let me tell you something, it's been a bumpy road.
I used to be very shy and introverted. My mom used to always tell me to lift my chin up as kid because I used to walk looking down at my feet. Side note: Finnish people in general are very introverted, some would even argue that they're anti social. So, deciding to blog and share about the things I do was a big decision for me, yet here I am typing. I've come to learn that putting yourself out there and courageously shining your light is your birthright. Why should I (or you) hide? Or why should I try to dim my light? Criticism and opinions are hard to avoid unless you live a life doing absolutely nada, so why not go for it. Heck! I might even inspire someone. So that's that, a big step for me and I am still quite unsure where it will take me, but for now, I welcome you to come back here if any of the following subjects interest you, since this is what I'll mainly blog about:
Yoga, surfing, health, beach life, wellness, meditation, empowerment, fashion, food (especially about tacos), tips on Sayulita (where to go, what to do), traveling, friends and so on.
That's it for now. Stay tuned. More to come.
Best,
Eva
Jessica L. Moody captured this moment yesterday.
Yup. Going for it.